Selknam experience the roar of the Olímpia Lions

Selknam experienced the roar of the Olímpia Lions. The Chilean SLAR entrant were beaten 22-20 at home by the Olímpia Lions this evening. The match was decided four minutes from full-time with debutant Diego Walter slotting a penalty.

The contest was the closest of the opening round of SLAR 2022. Two points separated the Olímpia Lions and Selknam. In contrast, Peñarol won 19-10 against Os Lobos and Los Jaguares XV downed Los Cafeteros Pro 33-22.

The Olímpia Lions started very strongly. Good early territory and possession was converted into a try as hooker Mariano Muntaner broke off an advancing maul to power over and into the try zone. Walter missed the conversion but added a penalty minutes later to put the Olímpia Lions 8-0 ahead.

The strong start turned into a dream one when Paraguayan second-rower Mariano Garcete went very low to score the second try for the visitors. Walter’s conversion was wide but the scoresheet read 13-0 in favor of the Olímpia Lions.

Selknam responded with the try of the match. Rodrigo Fernández provided a reminder of what he can do as he broke clear and passed a wide ball out to Matías Garafulic to score. Fullback Francisco Urroz converted from a wide angle.

In the second half the Chileans had the better of play. Pressure pilled-up on the Olímpia Lions with three forwards being yellow carded. The numerical difference did not initially matter as the Olímpia Lions added two penalties before Selknam scored in the half.

Points did nonetheless come. Replacement tight head Matías Dittus scored for the only try of the second half. With it converted and Urroz adding a long-range penalty Selknam suddenly were in the lead. Walter responded with a match-winning penalty four minute from full-time.

The full-time whistle sounded with the Olímpia Lions’ players jumping for joy. The result will give the Paraguayan side the confidence it needs to take on Los Jaguares XV in round two on Saturday. Selknam’s second round fixture will be against Os Lobos.

 

SCORING

SELKNAM 20
Tries – M. Garafulic (25′), M. Dittus (66′)
Cons – F. Urroz 2/2 (26′, 27′)
Pens – F. Urroz 2/3 (46′, 73′)

OLÍMPIA 22
Tries – M. Muntaner (3′), M. Garcete (22′)
Cons – D. Walter 0/2
Pens – D. Walter 4/5 (10′, 41′, 54′, 76′)
YC – D. Cabral (48′), E. Quinteros (65′), F. Simondi (67′)

 

TEAMS

SELKNAM
1 Javier Carrasco (17 Franco Pechia 63′), 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 Vittorio Lastra (18 Matías Dittus 32′-40′, 41′), 4 Augusto Sarmiento, 5 Javier Eissmann (19 Santiago Pedrero 56′), 6 Raimundo Martínez, 7 Thomas Orchard, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Matías Garafulic, 12 José Ignacio Larenas (23 Luca Strabucchi 60′), 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Nicolás Garafulic, 15 Francisco Urroz (capt.)

Not used: 16 Jorge Delgado, 20 Santiago Edwards, 21 Lukas Carvallo, 22 Juan Zuccarino

OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Daniel Cabral (17 Ezequiel Reyes 62′), 2 Mariano Muntaner, 3 Enrique Quinteros, 4 Lorenzo Colidio, 5 Mariano Garcete (19 Agustín Toth 55′), 6 Federico Simondi (17 Ezequiel Reyes 50′-58′), 7 Ignacio Gandini (capt.), 8 Mariano Romanini, 9 Ignacio Inschauspe, 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Juan González (22 Ignacio González 63′), 12 Estanislao Arrias (23 Nicolás Hogg 60′), 13 Francisco Díez, 14 Julián Quetglas, 15 Diego Walter

Not used: 16 Conrado Iglesias, 18 Estefano Aranda, 20 Álvaro Biscay, 21 Matías Sauze

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)
Assistants: Cauã Ricardo (Brazil) & Nerea Livoni (Argentina)
TMO:  Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)